Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

Size: 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, specifically beds, mattresses, and furniture cracks

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages (feeds exclusively on blood, primarily human)

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal; they hide in dark crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed on sleeping hosts. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages.

Risks & Benefits

They do not transmit diseases but cause itchy welts, psychological distress, and potential allergic reactions. They are significant household pests.

Identified on: 12/31/2025